Chronic Inflammation Flashcards
Chronic inflammation definition
Chronic response to injury with associated fibrosis
How does chronic inflammation arise?
- May take over from acute inflammation
- May arise de novo - autoimmune conditions, chronic infections, chronic low level irritation
- May develop alongside acute inflammation
What type of cells are present in chronic inflammation?
Macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (recruited by macrophages)
What do macrophages synthesise?
Cytokines, complement components, proteases, blood clotting factors
What are eosinophils released in response to?
Allergic reactions, parasite infestations, some tumours
What are giant cells?
Multinucleate cells made by fusion of
macrophages
Frustrated phagocytosis
Different types of giant cells
Langhans - tuberculosis
Foreign Body Type
Touton - Fat necrosis
Which cell is present in large proportions in rheumatoid arthritis?
Mainly plasma cells
Which cell is present in large proportions in chronic gastritis?
Mainly lymphocytes
Chronic Cholecystitis?
Fibrosis
Repeated obstruction of the gall bladder by gall stones
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Impaired function
Repeated acute and chronic inflammation
Can affect large and small bowels
e.g. Ulcerative colitis (superficial) and Crohn’s disease (transmural)
Common causes of cirrhosis(fibrosis and impaired function)
Alcohol Infection with HBV, HCV Immunological Fatty liver disease Drugs and toxins
Thyrotoxicosis
Increased function
Graves’ disease
Body produces antibodies to the receptor to TSH
What is a granuloma?
Groups of macrophages and lymphocytes stuck together. Occurs when macrophages attempt to wall off substances it perceived as foreign but is unable to eliminate.
Main causes of granulomatous inflammation
Mildly irritant foreign material
Infections e.g. mycobacteria
Unknown e.g. sarcoidosis, Wegeners granulomatosis, Crohn’s disease
